Insect guard system and method of use

ABSTRACT

A non-toxic, non-chemical device and system for repelling crawling insects from a structure such as a building and training the insects to go elsewhere includes closely-spaced elongated conductors mounted on an insulating base and having a potential difference applied thereto for providing a insect-stunning short-circuit current of about fifteen microamps. When insects bridge the conductors, they receive a current as a function of their internal resistance. The conductors are mounted via the base along the foundation and about posts and other structures which connect into the building. Preferably, the conductors are also slippery and reflective to assist in repelling and training the insects without bridging the conductors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the prevention of crawling insectinfestation of structures such as buildings.

2. Background Information

Infestation by destructive and possibly diseased-carrying insects suchas termites and cockroaches is a world-wide problem. In structures suchas residential homes and commercial buildings, there are two aspects tothe problem: elimination of an existing infestation and preventinginfestation. To our knowledge, prevention usually involve spraying orcoating chemical insecticides about the exterior periphery of thestructure and, perhaps, inside structural components such as walls.Remedial attempts to rid structures of existing infestations take theform of spraying chemical insecticides, distributing chemicalinsecticide traps and systemic fumigation of a section of the structureor the entire structure.

Of the techniques used for prevention and elimination, chemicalinsecticides are probably the most effective, but require periodic andpossibly frequent reapplication to maintain effectiveness. Also,insecticides are potentially toxic not only to the target pests, butalso to non-targeted insects and to plant and animal life, includinghuman life.

An electrical and mechanical alternative to chemical sprays, coatingsand traps utilizes a molding-like trap structure which is applied alonga wall baseboard and has spaced longitudinal conductor strips positionedalong or over a curved trap-forming base section. An electricalpotential difference is applied across the conductor strips, whichtypically are concealed by an elongated cover so that insects seekingconcealment within the cover (for example, when lights are turned on)will straddle the conductors, be electrocuted by the associatedpotential difference and fall into the trap. While this structure isdesigned to avoid problems associated with the use of chemicals,nonetheless it does use high voltages of about 1800 volts and shortcircuit currents of about 6.5 milliamps which are noticeable to thehuman touch. In addition, presumably it is necessary to remove deadinsects from the traps of this structure, which is designed to eliminateinsect infestation after it occurs within a room, rather than preventthe occurrence of infestation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1. Objects

Keeping in mind the above discussion of the characteristics andshortcomings of the prior art approaches for purposes of comparison, itis one primary object of the present invention to provide an insectrepellent device and method of operation which are preventive orprophylactic in nature, rather than merely remedial, in that operationof the device prevents all manner of crawling insects such as termites,ants, cockroaches, spiders, caterpillars, centipedes and others fromcrawling upon or entering the protected structure.

It is a closely related object to provide such a device which does notkill the targeted insects, but rather trains or controls them so thatthey make other decisions as to where to crawl and live, thus leavingthe protected structure free of infestation and damage.

It is another closely related object to provide such a protective devicewhich uses absolutely no poisons or chemicals and will not shock humanbeings or animals when touched. In short, the object is to provide adevice which is free of toxic elements and which poses no electricalshock hazard yet is efficacious in achieving its training/controlfunction.

It is still another object to provide such a device which, relative tothe purpose attained, i.e., the protection of an entire structure suchas a residential or commercial building against entry of crawlinginsects, is relatively inexpensive to install and is simple to operate.

It is of yet another object to provide a device as described above whichworks continuously and without interruption.

2. Summary

In one aspect, our invention is embodied in a system for training andrepelling crawling insects which comprises an elongated, flexible,electrically insulating substrate; a pair of elongated spaced conductorsmounted on the substrate, the conductors being highly reflective andslippery; and power assembly means connected to the conductors forestablishing a voltage differential providing a short-circuit current ofabout fifty microamperes to one microampere across the conductors, sothat crawling insects are repelled from crossing the space conductors,preferably by a combination of reflected self-images, slipperiness, andshock caused by bridging the differential. In a presently preferredembodiment, our system includes a flexible screen base which mounts theflexible insulating substrate with the conductor side thereof facingoutwardly. Preferably, the conductors are chromium and the insulativebase is mylar.

In another aspect, our invention relates to a method for repellingcrawling insects from crawling on and entering a protected structuresuch as a building without killing the insects and for training theinsects to go elsewhere, comprising: mounting reflective, slippery,closely-spaced conductive strips about at least the peripheral base ofthe building for impeding the progress of insects across the strips; andestablishing an electical potential between the conductors sufficient toprovide a short-circuit current of about fifteen microamperes betweenthe conductors and an associated stunning current through insectsbridging the conductors which is dependent upon the internal resistanceof the insect.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

1. Overview

Referring to FIG. 1, in a presently preferred embodiment, our presentinsect guard system 10 includes a strip device 13 which is mounted aboutthe lower external periphery of a protected structure such as a house orother building and which, as the result of a combination of electricalshock, slipperiness and reflected image, trains or controls crawlinginsects to go elsewhere.

The device 13 comprises an elongated strip or base 12 (FIG. 2) ofnon-conductive flexible material on which is formed or deposited spacedreflective, slippery, electrically-conducting strips 14 and 16. Thestrips are individually and separately connected by lines 18 and 20 to apower assembly box 22 which, in turn, is connected by a power plug 24 orother connector to a source of power such as a conventional AC outlet.Alternatively, the primary source of power can be a DC source such as abattery. In addition, a back-up power source such as a battery can bereadily integrated into the circuit.

In a presently preferred basic version, the power assembly box 22comprises three resistors: a four megohm resistor Rl connected in aseries with one conductor 14, a four megohm resistor R2 connected inseries with the second conductor 16, and a one megohm bridge or shuntresistor R3 connected across and on the source side of the seriesresistors Rl and R2. This arrangement provides a voltage to the strips14 and 16 such that a short circuit current of about fifteenmicroamperes is delivered across the gap 28 between the two strips 14and 16. Preferably, the base 12 is applied to the structure using acontinuous bead of adhesive such as commercially available liquid nailso that there are no gaps between the base and the protected structure.Alternatively, however, other securing means such as nails or staples ortape can be used.

Please note, the components Rl, R2 and R3 and the associated values aregiven by way of a preferred example for standard 120 volt, 60 cycle ACpower sources. However, other resistor values can be used which areselected to provide the desired, very low value short-circuit current.In addition, the resistive components can be replaced by any impedancesZl, Z2, Z3 which deliver the desired low short-circuit current.

In use, and with the structure preferably applied along the base orfoundation of the protected structure, when a crawling insect approachesthe strip three factors combine to prevent that attempt and todiscourage subsequent attempts.

First, the reflective nature of the material provides a self-image whichmay induce fear or anger due to the perception of another approachinginsect, as well as frustration because of the inability to effectivelychallenge that insect.

Secondly, if the insect is not dissuaded from attempting to cross theconductors, the smooth, slippery surface of the conductor strip materialsuch as chromium tends to render difficult any such attempt to cross,particularly for insects such as termites and cockroaches (thisstatement is based upon observation).

Thirdly, in the event that an insect does successfully initiate thecrossing, upon contacting both strips simultaneously ("bridging" thestrips), the insect will short-circuit the conductors and be stunned andfall off. Alternatively, if the insect is not stunned, it will respondto the stimulus by withdrawing.

If the insect again attempts to cross, it will encounter the samerepellents, including ultimately the same electrical stimulus which willagain stun it or force it to again withdraw. After repeated attempts tocross these strips and after being unable to do so, the insect willleave the area and seek other areas in the environment to live and findfood and shelter. This result is accomplished without killing theinsect, without the use of toxic chemicals, and without the use ofelectrical potential or current of sufficient value to pose discomfortor danger to the human touch. Also, one device is preventive and thus ismore efficacious than existing remedial devices which merely alleviateor eliminate existing infestations.

2. Preferred Structure of Insect-Repelling Device 10

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 and in particular to FIGS. 2-4, as presentlyconstrued the protective device 10 comprises a variable length flexiblestrip or base 26 of material such as mylar which serves as a flexibleinsulating substrate for the conductive strips 14 and 16 of slippery,highly reflective material such as of chromium. The strips 14,16 aredeposted or otherwise formed on the mylar substrate with anon-conductive gap or space 28 between the strips. A lightweight,flexible base 30 of material such as fiberglass screen or mesh isadhesively joined or sewn to the insulated backside of the flexibleinsulating substrate 26. The mesh or screen base 30 is then secured tothe protected structure by adhesive or other joining means.

The particular composite structure integrates the dissimilar materialsnecessary to provide a flexible, durable, lightweight device which iseasily fabricated and securely mounted and which controls/trains/repelsinsects by the preferred combination of slipperiness, reflection andelectrical shock. That is, the highly reflective, slippery, conductivestrips provide the desired repellent functions, while the fiberglassmesh or screen provides a flexible, durable base which is easily formedto size and readily attached to the protected structures of interest andthe intermediate mylar base provides a flexible, durable easily sizedintermediate mounting substrate for the specific conductors and isreadily joined to the fiberglass base.

A presently preferred structure comprises a mylar strip 26 one to fourinches wide (the width depends on the installation location and on thesize of the insects in the locale) and two to four mils thick. Chromiumconductor strips 14 and 16 are deposited one to four mils thick on themylar base 26 with a 0.04 inch wide gap or space 28 between the strips.The mylar is sewn (the stitches 34 are most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and4) to the fiberglass base 30, which has approximately the same one tofour inch width as the mylar base. The power assembly 22 comprises theabove-mentioned resistors R1-R3 which provide a fifteen microampshort-circuit current across gap 28 for 120 volt, 60 cycle AC linevoltage and are potted within a plastic case for protection againstwater and moisture. The device is connected via an AC cord or wire tothe AC power plug 24, which is removably insertable into conventional ACoutlets.

3. Installation Examples

FIGS. 5-7 depict examples of typical installations of the protectivedevice 10 on different structures.

FIG. 5 illustrates application to the exterior foundation 36 of abuilding 38. The protective strip 13 is installed at a preferredlocation which is just below the lowest outer-facing board 40 on thecement foundation 36. That is, the protective strip 13 is mounted bysqueezing a running bead of liquid cement or other adhesive compound onthe fiberglass screen side of the strip. Then, the protective strip 13is positioned beneath and adjacent to the lowest board 40 or otherfacing material and is firmly pressed onto the foundation, adding moreliquid cement as necessary to make the strip adhere to the foundationwithout leaving air gaps large enough to permit insects to pass through.The protective strips 13 are connected together, for example, by joiningthe conductor strips 14,16 (FIG. 2) using conductive adhesive and bysewing, stapling and/or gluing the underlying base 12 (FIG. 2) tothereby make electrical contact between the two ends of the strips andmaintain continuity from strip-to-strip. Both the outside and inside ofthe foundation 36 should be protected in this manner.

Electrical power connections are made using a connector strip 42comprising two insulated wires 43,44 which are connected at one endintermediate the length of the strip 13 and extend through asubsequently sealed hole 46 in the wall to the power assembly box 22which preferably is securely mounted to a framing stud 48 or othersecure structural features. After the protective strip 13 is installedand checked for operation, shields, typically formed of L-shapedplastic, metal or wood covers 50, FIG. 8, are mounted using glue, nails,etc., over at least all exposed sections of the strip 13.

The weather/dust covers or shields 50 are installed to protect thesystem from rain, dew, ice, snow, dirt and dust build-up. The weatherstrips or covers 50 can be cut to customize the installation. Theirsize, i.e., width, can be varied to accommodate a particular geographiclocation and associated severity of weather. Also, preferably, watersealants will be applied on all joints between the covers 50 and themounting structure and between abutting connecting structures to preventleakage and possible ice damage to the protective strips.

The ability of the strip 13 to conform to structural features isillustrated by the corner bend 52 and by the stepped pattern 54 which isformed by prefabricating the stepped pattern out of strip material 13connected as discussed above.

FIG. 6 depicts the installation of protective strips 13 on a building 58having posts 60 which support a deck or balcony. Here, the protectivestrips 13 are mounted around the foundation 36 and around the peripheryof all the supporting posts 60 (and around all other structuresconnected to the house or building). The separate protective strips 13are interconnected by a distribution wiring system 62 which effectivelyserves as a bus which connects the individual power strips 13 to powerassembly box(es) 22 using conventional moisture resistant terminalstrips 64. The terminal strips connect to the distribution wiring systemand facilitate connection of this system to the various branches of thedevice 13 via wiring 65,66. For installation, a terminal strip 64 ispositioned at the desired location on the distribution wiring system 62associated with a power strip 13. The wiring 65,66 is cut to the desiredlength and connected to the terminal strip and the terminal strip issnapped into place on the distribution wiring system. The other end ofthe wiring is connected to the associated protective strip 13 or to thepower assembly box 22 using means such as a terminal strip and powerassembly box 22 and connector. Preferably, the power assembly unit 22will be attached near the foundation strip and convenient to the outsidedecking or other structural distribution points. Also, it is preferablebut certainly not necessary that an alternating current outlet be closeby to facilitate ease of installation.

FIG. 7 depicts the mounting of a protective strip 13 on stairs 68. Atriangular block 70 is mounted to the sloping rear side of the stairs toprovide a non-sloping, (vertical) rear surface which facilitatesinstallation. The protective strip 13 is placed just beneath the steps72 so that the circumferential cover 50 does not impede the use of thestairs. Preferably, the protective strip will be positioned as low aspossible on the stairs to maximize the protected area and minimizeaccess to the protected structure by crawling insects.

In addition to protecting the external posts 60, FIG. 6, internal postssuch as those in a crawl space or basement which connect to and supportthe structure should be protected. Also, protective strips will beadvantageously applied on foundations both under/inside the structureand outside the protected structure, on stairs, and in general on allstructures connected to the house including but not limited to power,T.V. and telephone poles, and power, T.V. and telephone line entrypoints. Similarly, gas and water mains and meters coming out of theground and entering the structure through or above the foundation shouldbe protected by the strip devices 13. Regarding lines such as power,T.V. or telephone lines, if the insects are gaining access by way ofsuch lines, the protective strips should be installed on the structureproper and not on the lines coming into the structure.

4. Other Structures and Configurations

FIGS. 9-15 illustrate various other geometrical configurations which canbe used to present a differential current/voltage barrier to crawlinginsects.

FIG. 9A illustrates a protective strip 72A which has conductor strips 74and 76 of metal or semiconductor or other suitable material formed on atubular insulating base 73 and separated by straight gaps 75 between theconductor sections. The protective device 72B shown in FIG. 9B issimilar except that zig-zag gaps 77 are used.

FIGS. 10A and 10B depict protective devices 78A and 78B which aretriangular in cross-section. That is, the base 79 is triangular incross-section. Longitudinal conductor sections 80 and 82 are formed onthe base. Device 78A, FIG. 10A, has a straight non-conductive gap 81,whereas device 78B, FIG. 10B, has a zig-zag gap 83.

Similarly, FIGS. 11 and 11B depict conductors 84A and 84B, respectively,formed of a non-conductive insulating base 85 of rectangularcross-section and conductor strips 86 and 88 separated, respectively, bystraight longitudinal gaps 87 and zig-zag longitudinal gaps 89.

FIG. 12 depicts a device 90 comprising, e.g., a base 91 of plastic orother suitable material such as masonite or fiberglass to whichconductor strips 94 and 96 of metal or semiconductor material are joinedas by laminating.

FIG. 13 depicts a protective device 92 formed by a tubular base 97 ofcircular cross-section on which a metal strip 98 is wound in a spacedspiral coil configuration with non-conductor gaps 99 being providedbetween the coils.

As shown in FIG. 14, interleaved conductors 104,106 can be used as theactivated conductor strips. The interleaved conductors provide a widerstraddle area and multiple points at which an insect has an opportunityto encounter the differential voltage/current. This interleavedconductor arrangement can be used in place of the arrangement of single,straight conductors 14,16, FIGS. 1-4, and 94,96, FIG. 12. In addition,the interleaved conductors can be manufactured in various geometricinterleaving configurations, including but not limited to spiral,meander, triangular, circular or as one of the trigonometric functionssuch as the sine, cosine and tangent functions.

Referring to FIG. 15A, the activated conductors can also take the formof solid spaced wires 114,116 or semiconductor material which isthermally bonded, adhesively bonded, etc., to the substrate 26 of mylaror other suitable material. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15B, one canuse a substrate 126 which is formed such as by molding, extrusion, etc.,and has spaced grooves 127-127 which receive the conductors 114,116. Theconductors can be bonded within the grooves or snapped into place as afriction fit.

It should be mentioned that while fifteen microamps is the presentlypreferred short-circuit current for crawling insects having bodyresistance of about 5-20 megohms, because of the combination ofeffectiveness and the large margin of safety provided by this value,there is sufficient safety tolerance to permit the safe use over a rangeof values from at least about fifty microamps to fifteen microamps orsmaller.

A number of materials can be used as the substrates 26, 126, etc., withacceptable results. These include wood, plastics, fiberglass, masoniteor other pressboard, metal, glass, screen, both metal and fiberglass,and any other material which will provide the requisite support to theactive metal strips.

In addition to chromium, which is preferred, other materials which canbe used as the active strip include all conductive metals,semiconductors laid on as a deposited material on a substrate,conductive paint on a substrate, electrolytic-deposited metals andsemiconductors and sputtered metals and semiconductors. Although allsuch materials do not provide the optimum combination of slipperiness,reflectivity and conductivity a number of such other metals will providesufficient conductivity alone to function adequately.

Numerous other modifications will be readily derived by those of usualskill in the art based upon the disclosure of the preferred andalternative embodiments here. For example, in addition to being mountedon the above materials, the system can be inlaid into existing wood orhard material such as cement, metal or brick. New constructionarchitectural design can be readily adapted to the use of this system.Furthermore, the system can be used to protect a wide range of otherstructures such as power poles, and living and/or non-man made assetssuch as trees and other plants.

Thus, there has been described a crawling insect repellent device whichuses a combination of imaging, slipperiness and low voltage, low currentelectric shock to repel crawling insects and to train/control them to goelsewhere, without killing the insects. Thus, our device is effectiveand avoids the mess associated with systems which kill insects, withoutthe use of poisons or chemicals, and without any risk of shock to humanbeings or animals which touch the device. The electrical safety of thedevice has been demonstrated by placing a strip in a bathtub of waterwith a person sitting in the water and holding onto the strip with onehand and the faucet with the other. In this situation, one does notexperience any sensation of shock whatsoever, due to the extremely lowcurrent and voltage. The system is safer than handling a standardnine-volt transistor radio battery. In addition, the system is simple tooperate, inexpensive to install, lasts indefinitely (in contrast to theperiodic replenishing or replacing required of conventionalpoison/chemical insecticides) and works continuously withoutinterruption when properly installed.

Having thus described preferred and alternative embodiments of ourinvention, what is claimed is:
 1. A system for training and repellingcrawling insects, comprising: an elongated, flexible, electricallyinsulating substrate; a pair of elongated spaced conductors mounted onsaid substrate, said conductors being highly reflective and slippery;and power assembly means connected to said conductors for establishing avoltage differential providing a short-circuit current of about fiftymicroamps to about one microamp across said conductors, whereby crawlinginsects are repelled from crossing the spaced conductors by acombination of reflected images, slipperiness, and shock caused bybridging the voltage differential.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein theconductors comprise a multiplicity of longitudinally interleavedfingers.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a pairof spaced longitudinal grooves and said conductors are mounted withinsaid grooves.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes apair of spaced longitudinal grooves and said conductors are mountedwithin said grooves in a friction fit therein.
 5. The system of claim 1,3 or 4, wherein the conductors are chromium.
 6. The system of claim 1,further comprising a flexible screen base, said flexible insulatingsubstrate being mounted on said flexible screen base with the conductorside thereof facing outwardly.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein theconductors comprise a multiplicity of longitudinally interleavedfingers.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the substrate includes a pairof spaced longitudinal grooves and said conductors are mounted withinsaid grooves.
 9. The system of claim 6, wherein the substrate includes apair of spaced longitudinal grooves and said conductors are mountedwithin said grooves and form a snap fit therein.
 10. The system of claim6, 8 or 9, wherein the conductors are chromium.
 11. The system of claim6, 8 or 9, wherein the conductors are chromium strips and the elongated,flexible, electrically insulating substrate is mylar.
 12. A method forrepelling crawling insects from crawling on and entering a protectedstructure such as a buildihg without killing the insects and fortraining the insects to go elsewhere, comprising: mountingclosely-spaced electrically conductive strips along at least the base ofthe structure and circumferentially about other connected structuressuch as posts; and providing an electrical potential between theconductors sufficient to provide a short-circuit current of aboutfifteen microamperes to shock insects bridging the space between theconductors.
 13. A method for repelling crawling insects from crawling onand entering a protected structure such as a building without killingthe insects and for training the insects to go elsewhere, comprising:mounting reflective, slippery, closely-spaced conductive strips about atleast the peripheral base of the building for impeding the progress ofinsects across the strips; and providing an electrical potentialsufficient to provide a short-circuit current of about fifteenmicroamperes between the conductor strips across insects bridging thespace between the electrically conductive strips.
 14. A system fortraining and repelling crawling insects, comprising: an elongated,electrically insulating substrate; a pair of elongated spaced conductorsmounted on said substrate; and power assembly means connected to saidconductors for establishing a voltage differential providing ashort-circuit current of about fifty microamps to about one microampacross said conductors, whereby crawling insects are repelled fromcrossing the spaced conductors by shock caused by bridging the voltagedifferential.